CHARLESTON, SC - March 8, 2018 - On the heels of last week's arrival of two neo-Panamax cranes, today officials from South Carolina Ports Authority and Chinese crane manufacturer Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industry Co., Ltd. (ZPMC) presented a model of the new cranes to Laing Middle School.
"On behalf of ZPMC, it is an honor to present this crane model to the Laing Middle School students and administrators," said ZPMC President Huang Qingfeng. "We are proud to be the provider of SCPA's new cranes and support the positive impacts the Port brings to region."
Having submitted a winning entry last school year in the Port's 2016 "Name the Cranes Contest," sixth-grade student Jacob Blackburn attended the ceremony to accept the model on behalf of the school. Blackburn's "Cranebob Bluepants," along with Laing classmate Annabelle Horton's "Heavy Metal," were the Port's first neo-Panamax cranes, delivered in August 2016 to enable the Port to efficiently work large container ships.
"It's a privilege for the Port to engage with local schools to help students learn about Port operations," said Barbara Melvin, SCPA Senior Vice President of Operations and Terminals. "We're pleased to join ZPMC in the presentation of this gift to Laing and will continue to involve students and the community in the exciting changes underway at our terminals to prepare for big ships and accommodate Port growth."
The Port is hosting the ZPMC delegation for tours of the Wando Welch Terminal and the Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal, the Port's new container terminal under construction. ZPMC is the world's leading ship-to-shore container crane manufacturer and has supplied cranes for both of SCPA's existing container facilities, the Wando Welch and North Charleston terminals. The company will also manufacture all of the ship-to-shore cranes for the Leatherman Terminal, which will open in 2021.
About South Carolina Ports Authority
South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA), established by the state's General Assembly in 1942, owns and operates public seaport facilities in Charleston, Dillon, Georgetown and Greer. An economic development engine for the state, Port operations facilitate 187,200 statewide jobs and generate nearly $53 billion annual economic activity. Home to the Southeast's deepest port, SCPA is the industry leader in delivering speed-to-market, seamless processes and flexibility to ensure reliable operations, big ship handling, efficient market reach and environmental responsibility. For more information on SCPA, please visit www.scspa.com.